Fiji FA awards a farce: Officials February 07, 2010
The Fiji Football Association awards night which took place in Suva last night has been labeled as “bias” by some district administrators.
The Air Pacific sponsored awards night saw Lautoka walking away with the three major awards while Navua bagged only two.
Navua soccer boss Anil Sharma and his officials walked out of the hall at Noble House halfway through the ceremony claiming the decision by Fiji FA was biased and they deserved a fair treatment.
“We stepped out because Fiji FA is just favoring one district and ignoring the others.”
“The awards night is organized to honor and recognize the efforts of teams and officials that have given their best in the season and not to individuals whom Fiji FA favors.”
“Navua is not hungry for awards but we believe we have been ripped of our chances as we had a fantastic season and deserved to walk away with awards from here.”
“Winning the IDC in 71 years would be classed as the biggest achievement any where but unfortunately not in Fiji where we have people running Fiji FA like their own business and making their own decisions.”
“I am totally frustrated because we deserved a better treatment and for sure the Team of the Year award was one that should not have evaded us since we won Fiji FACT back to back and also won the IDC,Futsal, Beach Soccer, NCC and finished National League on second spot.”
“I am openly challenging Dr Sahu Khan to call and open forum and explain to the public, the criteria they used to determine the winners of the respective awards as we want to see the transparency and neutrality of the parent body.”
Taveuni president Basant Prasad also echoed similar sentiments and said Fiji FA under Dr Khan’s leadership was not making any positive progress and the awards function just reflected the non consistency and biasness.
“I was nominated for the Administrator award but the award was given to Savusavu president who hasn’t done much work in his district and has often relied on Labasa and outside players to bring glory to his district.”
“We, the officials of poor and small districts put in our best efforts to develop our local players and run football activities yet at the end of the day Fiji Football favors some districts over the others and gives them awards which they don’t deserve.”
Official of another major super premier district who did not wish to be named said he was completely shocked with some announcements and felt some of the award recipients did not deserve to win.
“We did not send in any nomination for the awards night because past experience shows that Fiji FA officials only favor those districts and officials that back the parent body in all the decisions, whether they are wrong or right.”
“What happened tonight (last night) hasn’t happened for the first time, nearly every year there are disputes over the awards as deserving people are always overlooked.”
Meanwhile a prominent media personality who has been covering football for more than a decade also took a swipe at Fiji FA with regards to the Media Personality of the Year award which was given to the editor of a newspaper.
The journalist who wished not be named said the recipient of the award was purely a news editor and did not deserve to win the award.
“I really feel for my fellow sports reporters who were nominated for the award as they had done all the hard work during the 2009 season but their efforts have been unrecognized.”
“How many football tournaments did the award winning journalist cover or how many football stories did he write in the 2009 season?”
“Fiji FA needs to get more transparent and come out clean as this type of practice will just kill the interest of young and enthusiastic football journalists in the country who spend days and nights away from their families to cover tournaments and other football activities”
The list of winners is as follows: Junior Footballer- Maria Lewavuni (Ba Womens), Fair Play- Pene Erenio (Navua), Team of the Year- Lautoka, Media Personality- Leone Cabenatabua (Fiji Sun), Coach of the Year- Gurjit Singh (Navua), Referee of the Year- Dina Mani Mudaliar (Lautoka), Women Footballer of the Year- Eni Tinai (Labasa Womens), Footballer of the Year- Kamal Hassan (Lautoka), Popular Footballer of the Year- Eni Tinai (Labasa Womens), Administrator of the Year- (Premier/Senior)- Jabid Hussein (Savusavu), (Super Premier)- Shalendra Prasad (Lautoka).
Let's imagine Anil Sharma, president of Fiji Soccer, wow then we'l be able to see top world class players from italy, france and brazil playing for Navua. Won't it be nice coz money buys all.
Posted by: mad maxfj
Finland | Feb 10, 2010 | 07:10:26 PM
I agree with Satish Narayan but players are still sold if the opposition give them better money for a team to lose. It's hard to prove that. The players loyalty days are gone in Fiji and Fiji can produce lots of players if they have discipline, honest and loyal. To any team. No one is disputing that players go for districts who look after them and pay them well but in return the players should be honest and loyal to the team who is looking after their families welfare.
Posted by: SATISH NARAYAN
Armenia | Feb 09, 2010 | 08:13:21 PM
I just want to let people know that stop talking about 70s and 80s, and district pride. Now things have changed, money is life, not few bottles of beer.
Every player who has talent should use them to earn money, age will not remain younger always, so make most of it for yourself and ur family. Dogs will bark around with repeated never ending pride and district , but will never look at whether you have food on the table or not, or your child can afford better education. stop that district pride thing ... it's of past.
Posted by: david matthew
Cambodia | Feb 07, 2010 | 12:03:10 AM
As a former LFA Sec/VP, I want to congrat the blues for the achievement they have made which I couldn't do during my term and wish all the best. As for Navua be a good loser. You have nothing but individual pride after all you (Anil) are a Labasian. You will never be a genuine Navuan. Let all be status quo and be fortunate to be a FijiFA VP. PS. I am a Canadian but I follow Fiji Soccer as I I have spent a good time of my life for the betterment of Fiji Soccer be it who Tiger MV Pillai/H P Singh/Dr Sahu Khan as I have worked with all of them. As for you Anil Sharma, have a thigh skin and face the music as what goes around comes around. All the best to FijiFA.
David Mathew
(Former FFA Asst Sec/ National League Sec) in fact I was the only Secretary after Mr Y M Haniff.
Posted by: mad maxfj
Finland | Feb 07, 2010 | 01:25:43 PM
Nothing new for Navua. Anil may want to take up the president's job but the soccer days will be worse than what we are having today. Awards are given on how you run a team and it is not necessary that if you win tournaments, you will win awards.
Posted by: Dennis Sumaru
Armenia | Feb 07, 2010 | 03:26:20 PM
David Matthews, with all due respect, it's not about Lautoka or Navua or Labasa, it's about Fiji Football. Please if you all can see a bigger picture. Dr Sahu Khan is man with fine character, but his football know how is to be desired including the current administration. Fiji needs new blood. Anil Sharma should be looked at very seriously for president.
Posted by: mohammed aslam
Cambodia | Feb 07, 2010 | 06:14:42 PM
Anil sharma, you can not buy everything. You and a few ppl in Fiji made soccer a joke. In the 70s, soccer was fun because players played out their heart for their district. In the end, you and Fiji soccer are the biggest losers.
Posted by: rajnesh chand
Finland | Feb 07, 2010 | 06:59:29 PM
Good one David. Well anil sharma you can't be blaming everyone for everything that does not get your way as this is also bull dozing isn't it. Well if you put your hand on the fire than you will get burnt and that is what has happened to you now so dont be a cry baby and accept the fact. Try making the record like what Ba does than you speak that you should be given every awards. Winning 1 IDC in 71 yrs dont make you a champion side. Truth is a very bitter pill to take.
Posted by: anjaleen kumar
Finland | Feb 06, 2010 | 06:48:58 PM
Yah, the districts are right. Fiji Sun won the award because they are a sponsor of Fiji FA.
Posted by: Dennis Sumaru
Armenia | Feb 06, 2010 | 09:59:49 PM
Atendra Deo, good call for the presidency to go but look at the facts:
1. If he goes, he will miss out on lavish overseas trips.
2. He will not go until such time he establishes full dynastic control.
3. He needs his name in the news as bad as he is doing, it's about him and his clowns and NOT about Fiji Football.
4. He controls the district presidency.The one he don't control he will try to break them down.
Sounds like Anil Sharma or there might be others or even the sports ministry in Fiji should step in and remove this lot. All else failing people should boycott the games till Sahu Khan is gone. There's a saying "When people lead ,the leaders will follow. But in this case the leaders should be removed.
Posted by: atendra deo
Finland | Feb 06, 2010 | 07:25:23 PM
Dr Khan, it's time for you to call it a day. Under your presidency nothing has been achieved. Bob should also resign.
Posted by:
| Feb 08, 2010 | 09:56:39 AM
David M, Dr SK is an old fart. You both cannot see the bigger picture any longer. Dr SK has done nothing to improve soccer in Fj. Dr SK should go.
Posted by:
| Feb 08, 2010 | 11:08:15 AM
All Lautoka officials HAVE and WILL always support Dr SK whether he is wrong or right (very seldom) so it's nothing new about David M. Dr SK has been on vacation for too long. It's time for him to get a real job.
Posted by:
| Feb 08, 2010 | 11:11:41 AM
Oh yes Fijilive will NEVER print anything negative about its first citizen, Dr SK.
Posted by: mad maxfj
Finland | Feb 08, 2010 | 12:13:11 PM
My personal view. even i dont like Sahu Khan as president but then who can take that position in Fiji. No one. The president should be a person who is independent and not for one district. All who are in the list for president's position will never be fair. They will all support more for their own district.
Posted by: Elex Chang
Finland | Feb 08, 2010 | 02:43:49 PM
We Indians are like this and will be always. There will never be a majority support for anything because Indians always miss the main issue but put their own gains first. This is very common in Fiji examples are politics, religious organisations, schools ... you name it (everything that is run by Indians in Fiji). This is a no win situation. No one can change FFA officials unless they decide to quit, and Fiji soccer will never improve unless soccer lovers make a stand. Fiji soccer is all about district pride and they don't have the brains to move up a level to national soccer and have both together. There is too much jealousy and hatred amongst districts. Come on soccer lovers do you not want Fiji to play big teams if yes then change your attitude towards current soccer administrators and put in someone who know what's happening and what to do in this world of professional era. Current soccer officials doesn't even know the formation of current soccer and you people expecting them to improve soccer in Fiji ...
Posted by: Elex Chang
Finland | Feb 08, 2010 | 05:20:38 PM
Maxfj is right. Look what he done to Navua ... they got bad to worse ... yeah right! That's what will happen to Fiji soccer if Anil S will take over the Fiji Soccer. Don't know how many people from Fiji want to see Fiji doing well.
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